Wonder What It's Like To Be A Tourist Attraction?
by Ted Taylor
Chronicle-News Globe
November, 2012
Reprinted with permission

I went to college in Lancaster County and so that area holds a special place in my heart. And each year Cindy and I go up there, at least once, and usually for homecoming.

We stay with Steve and Jamie Shane at the wonderful Apple Bin Inn in Willow Street, just a hop skip and a jump from the old alma mater. Actually, our first stop there was in 2003 — mere weeks after the two former engineers decided to chuck the corporate rat race and join the hospitality one. They declared that we are their longest-term regular customers when we were up a couple of weeks ago.

Since we missed homecoming this year — we were in Florida — we booked our Lancaster visit for the last weekend in October — right before Hurricane Sandy came screaming at us and brought lots of bad things with her.

Our usual Millersville University-related visits always include most of the day on campus going to the always well done parade; enjoying an alumni luncheon (often not so well done) and watching the Marauders traditionally get their doors blown off in the homecoming football game. (Of course they won this fall, we weren’t there.)

This year we decided to be tourists and our host, Steve, drew up a map for us highlighting things he thought we might like to see. Knowing that I am into sports memorabilia he started us off with a few of the larger antiques businesses in the region. Cacklebury Farm, on Route 30, on the way to Intercourse, was one of the largest antiques malls we ever saw. In fact, it was so big as to be overwhelming. But we plodded along anyway, dazzled by all the eclectic the stuff for sale there.

Next it was up Belmont Road toward a small covered bridge, which turned out to be closed for repairs, and so we drove down many farm lanes and finally, off to the town of Intercourse, a huge tourist mecca with a suggestive name.

Driving though the farmlands we watched Amish farmers clearing the fields, much as they had been doing for the past couple of centuries. Nothing modern, just horse or mule drawn rigs. The men and the boys were in the fields, the women we saw were working around the farm houses, clearing leaves, pulling weeds. Most houses had long lines of wash hanging to dry, usually on pulleys that are attached to a silo. Lots of horse drawn buggies dotted the roadways.

When we hit Intercourse (we were also in Paradise, Blue Ball and other quaintly-named towns) it struck me that this huge tourist industry basically centers on gawking at the Amish. These very religious people are now prime tourist attractions. Movies have been made about them; souvenir stands up there carry everything Amish.

I wondered what it would be like if, someday, hoards of Amish decided to descend on our area and gawk at us living our daily lives. You know, going to the mall, buying a pizza, cutting the lawn with a power mower — our funny (to them, sometimes even to me) outfits. I think it would be darn uncomfortable.

We went to an Amish farm stand that made homemade pretzels. The pretzels were incredible, their little business was in the middle of farm lands and yet, while we were there, two tourist-laden buses stopped and people climbed out to sample their pretzels and home-made root beer (a taste for which I had developed in college).

Next we went to Lapp Valley Farm, a dairy that sold the best ice cream you’ll ever eat. And while I was devouring a coffee ice cream waffle cone (home-made, of course) an Amish buggy pulled up to the drive-in window and a cute little boy was treated to an ice cream by his bearded father (or grandfather). The same busloads of tourists showed up there too. We then hit a few shops, even bought a piece of Amish-made furniture for our house, and then headed back to the Apple Bin Inn for a to-die-for Hess’s Bar-be-cue dinner.

Over dinner I asked Steve if he thought the Amish minded being tourist attractions and he replied, “Yes, I think they do, but they have figured out a way to capitalize on their differences … and they are always willing to make a dollar. In fact many of them are pretty well-off.” That point being clearly evident in their huge, pristine, farm houses and acres and acres of lush bountiful farmland.

I didn’t feel at all guilty about enjoying the area and admiring the Amish and their quaint way (to me) of life. And, yes, they acknowledge being tourist attractions and, yes, it’s equally clear that they don’t mind making a buck off our curiosity. Seems like a win-win situation for all of us in one our area’s most attractive and interesting regions.

Apple Bin Inn Welcomes Bestselling Author

During August 2009, bestselling author Mindy Starns Clark was a guest at the Apple Bin Inn while doing research for two upcoming books about the Amish in Lancaster County...  A Pocket Guide to Amish Life (release date: January 2010), and Secrets of Harmony Grove (release date: November 2010).

Ms. Clark is the author of Shadows of Lancaster County, Under the Cajun Moon, Whispers of the Bayou, the "Million Dollar Mysteries" series, the "Smart Chick Mysteries" series, and the nonfiction how-to book The House That Cleans Itself.  (A singer and former stand-up comedian, Mindy is also a popular inspirational speaker and playwright.) 

We arranged for her to spend a conversational afternoon with an Amish family at their farm, followed by a home-cooked dinner at the home of another Amish family, and she and her husband came back raving about both experiences.  She said, “My husband and I can’t thank you enough for all that you did on our behalf!  Between that and the incredible meals and your wonderful inn, our entire visit was simply a dream come true.  Thank you so much for everything!”

 It was our pleasure, Mindy!  We look forward to reading your new books and sharing them with our guests! 

Apple Bin Inn a "Top 10" Bed & Breakfast!

In October, 2006, the Central Penn Business Journal recognized the Apple Bin Inn as one of the  Top 10 Bed & Breakfast Inns in Pennsylvania! Whether you're coming to Lancaster County for business or pleasure, you'll find our warm hospitality, delightful accommodations, and delicious breakfasts to be just what you're looking for.  We hope to see you soon!

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Apple Bin Inn Featured on 2004 Christmas Tour of Homes

Apple Bin Inn Helps Host 2004 Kitchen Tour

The Apple Bin Inn was a featured stop on the 2004 Kitchen Tour for the Strasburg Women's Club. Our guest chef was Bill Scepansky from Kegel's, who frequently appears on area TV shows. Chef Bill demonstrated how to prepare a delicious leek truffle soup for our visitors to sample. During the 4-hour tour, about 100 visitors from neighboring towns toured the Apple Bin Inn, and we made a lot of new friends while helping a worthy charity.

"B&B" Makes for an "A" Weekend
by Ted Taylor
Times Chronicle / Glenside News / Huntingdon Valley Globe
October, 2003
Reprinted with permission

I remember staying in tourist homes as a kid. My dad's Philadelphia-based company also had an office in Ottawa, Canada, and in the summertime we'd drive up there, stop at Niagara Falls and spend a few nights along the way in tourist homes.

Tourist homes were just that. A home that the owners opened up for tourists to stay in as they traveled America's highways. In most of them you and the family shared the same bathroom, the breakfast table, and other amenities. And then as the country's super highways replaced the nation's labyrinth of back roads, so, too, did motels replace tourist homes.

But now the same concept lives again. They are called bed and breakfasts (hip people call them B&Bs), and my wife and I just experienced a wonderful one in a town that I never heard of, five miles from my alma mater, Millersville University.

Last year when my 40th reunion beckoned, we called the alumni office and they provided us with a list of nearby motels. The one we ended up in was, to be kind, dreadful. It was a "name" hotel, but it last saw new furniture, I'd guess, during the JFK administration. Not only was it threadbare, it was dirty. We stayed there for a night and vowed never to do that again.  So, that did it for my wife. She told me that if we were going to homecoming this year we'd be staying at a B&B or we'd be driving up and back the same day.

And so we discovered Jamie and Steve Shane's Apple Bin Inn on Willow Street Pike in, of all places, Willow Street, PA. I had gone to college five miles from there and never heard of the town of Willow Street. And when I found their inn on the Internet and contacted them in early September they said that there was but one room left - the Gala Suite (of course all of their rooms are named for apple varieties). I said that I'd take it.

What a great decision. The inn was built in 1865 on what is now Route 272 North and it has also functioned as a general store in its historic past. But now it is a B&B and it has five guest suites - each unique and with a character of its own.

Steve and Jamie had just taken over ownership of the Apple Bin Inn in September [2003]. They were both engineers and both had had it with the corporate world. Being logical thinkers they decided on owning and operating a B&B and then searched the East Coast for "the place". Their search brought them to Lancaster County and the Apple Bin Inn.

Of course it was fully booked for the weekend and we felt as if we were home the minute we walked through the door. Steve, Jamie, their son Dylan, and cat Jessie, made you feel welcome immediately.

The breakfasts they served both days were culinary delights, and the conversations with our fellow boarders built an air of warmth that made us all reluctant to depart - with goodies baked by Jamie - on Sunday morning.

There were Simon and Mandy from London, England, retired school teachers Bob and Linda from the Outer Banks and two couples - a tax collector and borough secretary - from a nearby New Jersey town. But for that weekend we were all like family. Oh yes, all the bedroom doors had keys and no one used them. It was that kind of place. 

Homecoming was fun, as usual. Millersville lost the football game, but hosted a lot of great events - including the granddaddy of all homecoming parades.

And, yes, we'll go to homecoming next year... and, yes, I've already booked the Gala Suite in advance.  We can't wait to go back!

A footnote to Ted's 2003 article:  As of 2012, Ted and Cindy Taylor have stayed with us for 10 consecutive years, and we look forward to many more!  Once a friend, always a friend at the Apple Bin Inn!        Steve & Jamie Shane